My Halloween Special isn't all about the new Halloween songs, old ones have to totally be included as well. Although I am more of a fan of the more recent version of this song by Beatfreakz, which is also called "Somebody's Watching Me", there is just something more haunting about the original. The song features Michael Jackson singing the chorus, with Jermaine Jackson provides backing vocals. Rockwell arrives home thinking that "Somebody's Watching Me" inside his house. He envisions items and people, turning it into a very paranoid music video.
Rockwell, real name Kennedy Gordy, is the son of Motown founder Berry Gordy. He had a short-lived career in the 80's, releasing three albums and ten singles. This debut single is his biggest hit, possibly because of the featured vocals of Michael Jackson as well as the backing vocals from Jermaine Jackson. The song hit the UK charts at number six, but Beatfreakz did better by hitting number three in the UK. In the US, Rockwell hit number two with this song. But got to the top spot in Spain and Belgium. The song was written by Rockwell.
The music video is low-budget and directed by Francis Delia. It's a complete narrative with a short performance piece embedded within.
Rockwell arrives home to discover his house has become haunted. He envisions various things, from his dog being a mutant pig, to someone watching him in the shower. It's relatable from start to finish.
The star is really not having the best time in his house. Even the people on the TV come up to the screen and watch him. There's also this freakish butler who appears in the background of the thumbnail. He also envisions himself buried in the graveyard, as well as various other spooky things.
This is inspired by the film 'Psycho', but the visions is reminiscent of 'The Dead Zone'. The haunted house theme is a classic Halloween storyline that always manages to scare. Michael Jackson, unfortunately, doesn't appear in the music video, regardless of the fact that he provides the vocals for the chorus, neither does Jermaine Jackson.
The ending of the video leaves it on quite the cliff-hanger, maybe his visions were all leading up to this point. It's a great low-budget music video that has everything we could possibly need. The singing in the shower performance piece isn't so engaging and feels a little too fake and Rockwell is totally not comfortable being filmed in the shower.
My Eurovision Special continues regardless of the fact that I'm in the middle of a Halloween Special. I've been lucky recently with my New Release and Chart Mondays slightly relating to my Halloween Special, but this music video isn't haunting or scary whatsoever. So this looks totally out of place on my blog, although the thumbnail looks quite mysterious. The Common Linnets represented The Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. They came second with 238 points. For a country song to be in the Eurovision alone is an amazing feat, but for it to do this well is amazing! The Common Linnets walk around the woods and the beach in this black and white music video for "Calm After The Storm".
The Common Linnets are a four piece country band that have had a major line-up change since the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest. They consisted of Ilse DeLange, Waylon (Willem Bijkerk), JB Meijers, and Matthew Crosby with the addition of Rob Crosby. Nowadays, Waylon and Rob Crosby have left the group and Waylon has been replaced with Jake Etheridge. The band was chosen through internal selection to represent the Netherlands. They went on to release a self-titled album which did well internationally, as well as re-releasing it with additional tracks. The song did amazingly globally, and at times even charted better than the winner of Eurovision 2014. The song was written by Ilse DeLange, JB Meijers, Rob Crosby, Matthew Crosby, and Jake Etheridge.
The music video is completely shot in black and white. We watch as Ilse DeLange and Waylon walk through the forest, in what looks like a barn, and along the beach.
As the song plays you can feel the emotions they have for each other flow between them.
There isn't an awful lot going on in the music video, a lot of suggestive relationship content, but it's more of a visual piece, a lot of close-ups but no performance or narrative. Shadows play an important role, but they're not developed enough. Not memorable, not relatable, and not engaging at all.
Literally ecstatic when this was released, not only because Bronnie is an amazing singer, but because I've been planning this Halloween Special, for my blog, for years now and I'm so happy to be including Bronnie within. My plan was to make this video kickstart this Special, but I have been behind on my blog since I went to Kiss Haunted House Party 2016. Now, I'm all caught up and ready to review the music video to my favourite 2016 Halloween song! Bronnie sends out gothic vibes with this haunting music video for "Scared Much". Including many Halloween-related objects whilst she performs in a forest; this can't become anymore spookier.
This haunting music video relates well with the song. At times there are exact translations of the songs lyrics which work well as visuals. It is a pure performance piece.
Bronnie is completely energetic throughout the video, not at all bothered that her head is floating above her body. She pulls off the floating head makeup trick perfectly. Her bright pink hair contrasts brilliantly.
The forest is entrancing, she manages to portray her love for this song as she heads towards the camera. Her stage presence is infectious, totally captivating and fully energetic throughout the video. This is exactly how she reacts on stage.
Other scenes include her dressing table that has a tonne of Halloween objects on, including a haunting mirror which allows us to see Bronnie get ready. Tarot cards, a crystal ball, candles and skulls complete the haunting visuals in this video. There is also a freakish ouija board!
Overall, this video has got it all going on; spooky, thrilling, haunting, what more could we want from Bronnie? The song was recorded at Edge Recording Studio. The video relates well with the song, with some great visual translations.
A bit of Rihanna's "Disturbia" for us all! It fits in nicely for my Halloween Special! This was possibly the turning point that put me off Rihanna. I didn't like the direction she was going down with this song and her subsequent songs never matched up to the love I had and still have for "Don't Stop The Music". Besides this entire music video freaked me out back in 2008. Rihanna is pretty much possessed in this "Disturbia" music video. Freakish dancing, disturbing themes and it still chilling to this day.
Rihanna, real name Robyn Fenty, is a worldwide global superstar. Everyone practically knows who she is and at least one of her songs. She's iconic and has really built a name for herself. She's at a point in her career, much like Beyoncé, where she can create the music she wants to and it'll still be a hit, regardless of whether it's likeable or not. She's worked her way up to this level and she isn't coming down from it whatsoever. This song was released on a reissue of her 'Good Girl Gone Bad' album, titled 'Reloaded'. The song hit number three in the UK but became another number one hit single in the US for Rihanna. It was written by Brian Kennedy, Chris Brown, Robert Allen, and Andre Merritt.
Directed by Anthony Mandler and Rihanna, the music video is extremely haunting, it freaks me out. It makes me think Rihanna is possessed by something.
The whole concept is intriguing with various scenes depicting the same idea. If anything, it really proves Rihanna's acting ability, because she pulls this off perfectly.
There are many scenes that will take me ages to comment on, although there is something freaky about the blonde wig and the contact lenses she is wearing when she is behind the bars. I also love the chamber where she's tied up via handcuffs; the way she struggles to get out is full of panic.
The spider scene is spine-chilling, I don't like spiders all that much, but those are tarantulas. I don't know how Rihanna kept her cool. Well, she was possessed.
The dance scene is flawless; great, relatable choreography that is totally on point throughout. The only problem I had was that not enough of the dance sequence was shown.
This music video is jam-packed full of everything. It's so disturbing, it works effortlessly and as much as it freaks me out and as much as I don't like it, the music video is relatable, brilliant and total perfection.
Going down a more country house music route, Calvin Harris' "My Way" is being reviewed as this week's Chart Mondays. He is throwing quite the spanner in my Halloween Special unless you supposed the love interest in this music video is a ghost, a pixelated one at best... Let's run with that, although, she is a robot. The song has been in the UK top 10 for a while, but the video has only just been released. With Little Mix's "Shout Out To My Ex" happily sitting on top, I'm reviewing this music video instead. Calvin Harris has stated that this song isn't about Taylor Swift, the song is about an ex-girlfriend being in his way. The accompanying music video for "My Way" shows her appearing and disappearing in a set of pixels, is she even real?
Calvin Harris, real name Adam Wiles, is the Scottish DJ who has won numerous awards and has worked with some of the biggest stars. He has a string of hits that just don't stop coming. He's definitely the one to watch around the world, because he is one of the hottest DJ's going at the moment, and I don't just mean his looks, even though he is pretty damn fine (especially considering what he used to look like when he released his debut single "Acceptable In The 80s"). This song was written by Calvin Harris.
The music video was directed by Emil Nava, who has directed a lot of Calvin Harris' music videos. The love interest is played by actress Emanuela Postacchini.
There is a kind of massive narrative behind this which is hard to follow. At first, I didn't get this video one bit, but I'm slowly understanding it, from my own perspective. This concept of the video may not be the intentional theory behind the narrative from the director or Calvin Harris.
We start off in a futuristic world, where there is a tall building standing in a desolate destroyed Earth. The camera pans into a window where we see a person with a Virtual Reality helmet on.
In an extremely clever cut, we see Calvin Harris on the steps of a country home. Into the past we go. We watch as Calvin Harris sings about the one thing being in his way, it's clearly his robotic love interest, but is she even there? The one complete stable throughout is Calvin Harris himself, everything else becomes a pixelated mess.
As the story continues, we watch her appear everywhere, taking control, destroying things. Almost as if it's a virus amongst his computer system; definitely an atrocity for any producer in the world.
The video ends with no one in the futuristic building; instead, there's a stand-alone computer from the 90s, maybe earlier, and there's one in each window-room of the building. Has this futuristic person become a pixelated specimen to run away with this person who isn't even real? Or does this video just not make sense?
What I do know, is that there is an awesome dance break during the barn house scene, where the choreography is nailed completely. With laser lights and an upbeat melody, you really can't go wrong.
This video is confusing, it gets even weirder the more you watch it. The pixels mess with your brain, disengaging the audience, which is the point of the video. Amazingly futuristically brilliant. Yet, I still can't quite make sense of this.
To be totally honest, I wasn't aware of this song until the Glee Cast covered it in a mash-up with Michael Jackson's "Thriller". Now it's become a global sensation and definitely a song to feature on all Halloween playlists. It totally deserves to be a part of my Halloween Special. This haunting song didn't do so well on the charts, but it is still an iconic haunting track. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs perform "Heads Will Roll" in front of a small audience, as a dancing werewolf finds its way on to the stage who later rips into everyone, rolling heads everywhere.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are a three-piece American indie band consisting of Karen Orzolek, Nick Zinner and Brian Chase. They have had moderate success in the UK, both single wise and album wise. They are currently on a hiatus. This is probably their most known song, regardless of it only reaching number 89 on the UK Chart, it managed to place on other charts around the world too. Although, their highest charting single was in 2003 with "Date With The Night". This song was written by Brian Chase, Karen Orzolek and Nick Zinner.
Directed by Richard Ayoade, the music video uses comedic horror which allows for a humorous scary music video.
I love that they have used red glitter and confetti as blood, and the conclusion of Karen O continually singing whilst being decapitated is epically original.
The story is easy enough to follow, and what seems to be a performance piece easily turns into a narrative which is such a simplistic engaging move.
We watch the band perform, they're energetic and enthralling, but then a dancer appears. He struts towards the stage when we realise he's actually a werewolf. It isn't long until he becomes blood hungry and chases the audience, ripping them apart as red confetti pours out of the bodies. The ending sees the band murdered in red glitter, but Karen O continues singing.
How can anyone not love this music video? It's pure genius, even if it is a little too simplistic for my liking. More development of the story is needed, as well as making it a little more relatable to the music video. Apart from those slight things, it works magically.
A bit of cheese on my blog, once again, but this is one of my all-time classic Halloween songs. I used to listen to this song all the time, and it always reminds me of Halloween. I actually remember the music video being on the music channels, at the time, which really goes to show how much of an impact it really was. Coinciding with the Scooby-Doo theatrical release, allSTARS*'s van breaks down and they are lost in the woods. "Things That Go Bump In The Dark" are best left alone.
allSTARS* were a five-piece pop group consisting of Sam Bloom, Thaila Zucchi, Ashley Taylor Dawson, Rebecca Hunter, and Sandi Lee Hughes. The name came from their first initials of their names, grouped together to make "STARS". They had four top 20 singles and one album, which failed to hit the UK's top 40 albums chart. Their low-charting positions ended up with the band parting ways with the label and subsequently each other. They were mostly known for their TV show on CITV called "STARStreet*". Rumour has it that a reunion is happening, although it's only rumours. Since the band; Ashley Taylor Dawson returned to play his character Darren Osbourne in Hollyoaks. Thaila Zucchi has had an all-right career in TV. Rebecca Hunter and Sandi Lee Hughes have had TV stints and children. Sam Bloom is a co-founder of 'Inspiring Interns'. The song is actually quite known, and is a must, on most Halloween playlists, although not many people actually know that it's sung by allSTARS*, especially with the original not being on iTunes.
The song appeared on the Scooby-Doo theatrical film soundtrack. The music video doesn't have any clips from the movie, although does feature a camper-van which is suggestive of the Mystery Machine.
The group members all disappear and get lost in the woods. That is the basic storyline and it isn't quite developed the way we want it.
Throughout the cheesy dance steps and the extremely bad lighting, it's intricate. Feeling quite similar to Hear'Say, allSTARS* rock the scary vibes thanks to the haunting visual. However, the choreography isn't anything we'd want to see again.
It's quite shocking that this group was aimed at kids and yet pelvic thrusts are throughout the video suggesting the song is quite sexual. There are certainly other "Things That Go Bump In The Night". Too suggestive for my liking in a cheesy pop video and group.
The video fails to wrap up the storyline. What happened to them? Regardless, the video is quite freaky and definitely a little scary. Perfect for Halloween!
This is for sure one of Ashlee Simpson's most underrated songs, most people don't even know about it. It's definitely one of my favourite Halloween songs, probably next to the other Halloween songs I choose for my Halloween Special! This is freakishly good, the song is so personal and although may come off a bit bland on first listen, it becomes an emotional party banger, on second listen, that will be perfect for all those spooky playlists out there! Trust me, this song is fire for any Halloween themed party. Raw and emotional, the song and the video work well together, Ashlee Simpson is in pain because of a guy who has a "Bat For a Heart".
Ashlee Simpson is probably best known as the sister of Jessica Simpson, yet she has established a career for herself both in the music industry and in the acting world. She has more a rock-edge to her tone, that definitely fuelled her chart success in the 00's. She is apparently working on a new album with her husband. Since this single was released back in 2012, I doubt it will be included in the said album. This single was apparently written by Linda Perry & Ashlee Simpson.
The music video is incredibly basic from start to finish. A consistent theme throughout as Ashlee Simpson pours her emotions out in a chaotic way.
Filmed totally in black and white, which definitely gives this an eerie feel, the video is quite quirky, to say the least. Ashlee Simpson has unlocked some sort of possessive beast from within, possibly a bat-transforming vampire.
At times we see her in a vocal booth or displaying dysfunctional dance moves, which doesn't fit singularly, however, would work fluidly with a full-set choreography, but then again something clean and perfect wouldn't work.
As a whole piece, it's quite unnerving yet interesting. Definitely haunting and perfect for my Halloween Special. On the other hand, I feel it doesn't quite relate to the song, and by itself, it's nothing special.
This was the only thing I can find for New Release this week, which is slightly disappointing, especially since I'm starting my Halloween Special this week, and although aliens can sort of be considered as a supernatural scary monster, I'm not quite sure it actually counts. Instead, I'm going to type up two reviews today so that I can fully flesh out my Halloween Special. Pretty Sister collaborates with Dragonette and Tobtok creating a catchy song. The music video definitely has "Galactic Appeal" as we watch an alien party and live it large with other people.
This is a major DJ collaboration! Pretty Sister is a solo project from Zak Waters who has previously released albums under his real name as well as EPs and singles. He has made quite the name for himself online, although before then he released two EPs with his pop/rock band Blueskyreality, who later disbanded. For now, he's Pretty Sister, who is definitely making electronic waves in the music industry. Dragonette are a well known electronic music trio band consisting of Martina Sorbara, Dan Kurtz and Joel Stouffer. They hit international fame on the collaborative hit "Hello" with Martin Solveig, but didn't quite keep a hold of the fame, and so follow-up singles didn't quite hit the mark. Regardless, they are still known throughout the world, although people may not quite know why at first. Tobtok is a Swedish DJ, real name Tobias Karlsson. He has remixed some of the biggest hits, as well as many unknowns. He previously remixed Zak Waters' song "Out Of My Head", which probably ignited this collaboration.
Directed by Anthony Chirco, the music video starts off extremely cheesy, totally set in the past and in black and white. But it soon turns to colour and all old theme vanishes as we watch an alien transform into a human. Possibly referencing the Roswell alien crash landing?
The alien walks along the road, where she's picked up by two strangers in a car. These two are Martina Sorbara, from Dragonette, and Zak Waters (well, Pretty Sister); who take her to their house/pool party.
This alien doesn't quite understand what is going on until Zak Waters comes up behind her and pushes her into the pool. That's when the party truly starts and this alien learns to have some fun and lets loose.
Martina Sorbara and Zak Waters really know how to host a party, where was my invite guys? Their hypnotic voices work well together, although their harmonies are slightly too soft for my liking, but their voices compliment each other's well. The ending shows the alien flipping through a book by the pool.
This is a great narrative with a side performance piece. Energetic and relatable, although the story isn't quite fleshed out fully. This alien doesn't quite have galactic appeal, she needed to be more quirky and different, rather than trying to blend in. But totally fun and definitely upbeat.
It's Thursday, so it's revisit time, and I'm so happy to feature The Pretty Reckless on my blog again this week, after reviewing "Take Me Down" from their new album which I reviewed for CelebMix. This was the song that got me onto The Pretty Reckless in the first place, and I always watched this video when it came on the music channels, although I don't see why I did. The Pretty Reckless dine at the head table of the wedding of the frontwoman Taylor Momsen, but there's no groom. It's an imitation of The Last Supper, She climbs on the table and rolls around, crawls, stands and crawls underneath as she sings "Miss Nothing".
The Pretty Reckless consist of four members who are Taylor Momsen, Jamie Perkins, Ben Phillips and Mark Damon. Their first album, which this was their second single from, was big in the UK, and their subsequent albums followed suit. At the time rock music was big here in the UK, and it will always be a part of our 00's era. Nowadays, rock music is less mainstream. It manages to rack up on the albums chart, but as for the singles chart, rock music barely scrapes in. This is why their new singles haven't charted well, but their albums have done fantastically. This song was written by Taylor Momsen, Ben Phillips and Kato Khandwala.
Directed by Meiert Avis, who has directed many videos, including the new one from The Pretty Reckless "Take Me Down". This video is a static narrative piece; it's a scene right out of a story, twisted and pulled apart and then given a whole new visual.
The whole thing is a new visual of The Last Supper. Taylor Momsen pulls off her veil and climbs on to the table. There is a close up of her pouring water for the other guests, which never made sense to me, but now I know it's an imitation of The Last Supper, it makes perfect sense.
She does various other things, messing the whole scene up, walking on the table, throwing food, smashing a bottle off a guy's head. She literally causes chaos but with no one to react to it it's unsettling.
The final scene shows her sprawled on the table, still looking sexy regardless of everything, whilst various so-called famous people come in to stand around. Of these people, Jimi Hendrix, Charlie Chaplin and John Lennon can be seen.
Overall, as a reworked version of The Last Supper, it works magically. Yet it doesn't quite go with the lyrics of the song. On the other hand, Taylor Momsen totally rocks this! The rest of the band play an active part in the video as the guests.
